Father Chris – BAPTISM OF THE LORD 2021 - Homily

“Washed With Holy Spirit And Fire”

While on a summer parish assignment, some church volunteers and myself organized a three-day Vacation Bible Camp for the children in our local families. One of the planned activities was presentations on the seven sacraments which I gave to the little ones.


The sessions were very interactive, involving some role-playing, stories, tours of the church and sanctuary, even trying on vestments. Standing on a chair, the children would get to try on a real stole and chasuble. To demonstrate Holy Communion, they gave each other little pieces of bread they cut out from sandwich loaves which they flattened with a spoon. Later, they used baby-oil to ‘anoint’ each other on their foreheads and wrists. So, it was a very real experience for them.


The day baptism was presented, I asked first what different things we use water for?
Someone said “to drink when I get thirsty”. “Very good”, I said. “Someone else?” “To wash our hands with after we come home from the park.” Another, “To wash my hair, which I really don’t like!” “My fish are in a glass bowl with water in it.” Someone else said, “To make lemon aid. My mom made some for me, and then my dad said I could sell it on the street in front of our house and make lots of money.”
I then explained water was used in baptism to wash away something from inside us called ‘original sin’, a part of us which needed cleaning because it wasn’t very nice.


They had also been asked to bring their favourite doll or stuffed toy to demonstrate with. So, one after the other, each child came forward with their baby doll or bear, on whose heads I poured water using a basin for our pretend ‘font’, while saying the Trinitarian formula. Each child would walk away wide-eyed, all smiles and giggles, holding their ‘dear one’ close to them; all except one child!


She said I hadn’t done the baptism right. I said, “Oh, No! Did I forget to say the right words?” She said, “Oh, No! What you said was ok, but you got water in Betsy’s eyes, and now she can’t see anymore.” It was true. Unfortunately, Betsy’s opening-and-closing eyes were fast shut! Thankfully, a hair-dryer restored Betsy’s eye sight and she began to wink at us again to the joy of her little mother.


Adults learn from demonstrations as well. Jesus certainly knew this. After he had reached maturity in his human environment, learning and working alongside his
father, and most certainly studying the tenets and foundations of his Jewish faith, he was ready to answer ‘the call’ of his heavenly Father.


Christ had no need of baptism. He was free from all sin. But he knew the act of being baptized himself would signal and initiate key aspects of his ministry:


1) His baptism would be a ‘sign’ to others of the formal beginning and establishment of his ministry, and as a formal answer to his Father’s call, to which his Father responded very favourably.
2) His ministry would not just involve the ‘forgiveness’ of sin, but ‘emancipation’ or ‘freedom’ from sin by his guidance and ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
3) He would wash away not just ‘hereditary’ or ‘original’ sin, peculiar to our ancient human condition, but also the ‘behavioural’ sin all too common to his Father’s creations who were born with the freedom of will and choice.
4) He would wash us with the actual power of the Holy Spirit and Fire which water could only symbolize. Water, the source of life, is invisible, yet of substance, able to assume whichever shape it is held within, transforms to ice or steam in whatever temperature it engages. Water is, indeed, a miraculous element, but it is still only ‘reminiscent’ and ‘symbolic’ of the true, excellent, invisible power of Spirit.


This baptism would mark the turning point in Christ’s life. Likewise, baptism also marks the turning point in our lives, even if we don’t recall it.


Baptism was also the presentation of the gift of Jesus himself to the human race, our Saviour, who is now fully matured in ‘grace and wisdom’, ready to face the desert of temptations and challenges which now awaited him in the material world.


We, too, are called to mature in ‘grace and wisdom’, as we journey forth from our baptisms to face the challenging desert of life. The temptations and challenges await us there, too. But now, we can endure with a bolder, stronger, more capable spirit, having been restored to our true magnificence as God’s most beloved creation, washed by the waters of the Holy Spirit. Lord, you set us on the right path. Now lead us home and bathe us in the peaceful, still waters of your joyous kingdom.


– Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario